"That we are all very attached to NATO, the force of this alliance is evident," he said during an address to a meeting in Lisbon of Portuguese ambassadors.

"At no moment has anyone proposed setting up rival bodies to NATO, to create duplications, that would be unproductive, useless, to get into such rivalries."

In December the EU adopted plans for an independent military planning cell proposed by Britain, France and Germany which would seek to enhance the bloc's abilities to respond to UN requests to intervene in global hotspots.

The unit will be based with the EU's existing military staff in Brussels, where NATO also has its headquarters.

"The transatlantic relationship continues to be, more than ever, a central axis of Europe's foreign policy," the minister said.

"What is important is that each time Europe wishes to act, it should be able to do so if it so wishes," he added.

WAR.WIRE